The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-07
THE HARPER TRIAL.
More Testimony Which Proves Interesting
to the Jury and Court.

More Testimony Which Proves Interesting
to the Jury and Court.
CINCINNATI, December Be. L. Harper
led his ten.year-old son into court with
him this morning, and the lad sat beside
his father without realizing the solemnity
of the situation. Briggs Swift was reex-
amiDed, but made no new points. W. Il.
Chatfield and Sol. p. Kineon, directors of
the bank, testified that the Board did not
authorize the issue of certificates of depos-
it to the Chemical National Bank, of New
y ork, for the payment of drafts of Chicago
grain brokers, The Board had never been
consulted with reference to issues of any
Tti6cates of deposit.
The most breezy witness thus far heard
was Albert P. GAhr, who testified that he
was secretary OF the Swift Iron and Steel
Company, andlse cretary and treasurer OF
the Riverside Iron and Steel Company;
that the last named company had no as
sets when it was organized, and never ac-
auiIed any, yet it procured call loan
from the Fidelity National Bank OF $780,
600 on its own note Endorsed by +. l..
Harper. He detailed the circumstances of
bis trip to Chicago June II in company
with Wiltshire. He said he was instructed
by Harper to go, and was told that Will
shire would get aboard at Cumminsville
with $500, 600, which witness was to take
charge of and deliver to Wiltshire in Chi
cago IL Wiltshire could make an arrange
ment with the Chicago parties, He gave
the package to Wiltshire in Chicago.
Richard Smith, of the Commercial Ga
zette testified that he went with BIiggsS Wifi,
the President, to see Harper and ask him
about the wheat deal. He said he was not
in the deal, that he was not using the funds
of the bank in the deal, and that he was
not discounting notes to raise funds.
Thereupon 1 wrote an editorial published
in theS Commercial Gazette saying that
the officers of the Fidelity gave assurance
of the soundness of the bank.
J. II. Stewart, trustee in the assignment
of T. L. Harper, testified he found assets
valued at 100000. Harper's liabilities
were over 81, 100000.
J. H. Waters, general book keeper, told Of
a New York draft that put $500 900 to Har-
per's credit. He was ordered by Harper to
conceal this fact. June 18th Harper or
| dered him to nut out 81 600 900 to the
Chemical National Bank for discount.
The Harper trial, which began Nlvem-
| Der 20, has moved with remarkable CELEBRITY
| from the beginning. The jury was I'M
psneled on the first day, and the testi-
mony has been brought out rapidly every
| day since. The government now has pre-
/ sented the main features of Its case with
out making many surprises to those who
read the disclosures made by the
newspapers last summer when the
crash came. 1t has shown that
Harper ran the bank, that Briggs
Swift, the President, was completely
deceived, even to the very last day before
bsnk was taken in charge by the Gov.
eminent. 1t was shown clearly that
Harper was in the wheat deal with all
tue resources he could command as Vice.
Pieslcent of National bank, which in
March last showed to the Government Elk
amlheT assets exceeding s. 100000. Will
shire, toe active broker, has told his story,
ksrshaw has told that the losses in
tie wheat deal reached 81, 446, 502
T. ere hes been no hist as to the line
cefente. except thst which crops out il
the REORGANIZATION of Wiltshire anc
wifi. Where 81 effort is apparent Il